Heartbroken Wozniacki falters at French Open

Paris: Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki returns the ball to Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer during their French tennis Open first round match at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. AFP PHOTO

ARIS: Heartbroken Caroline Wozniacki admitted her split with star golfer Rory McIlroy had come as a shock but vowed to move on with her life.

The 23-year-old Dane’s three-year relationship with the Northern Irishman ended last week after McIlroy got cold feet over their future while sending out wedding invitations.

The break-up did not have an immediate impact on his form as he swept to victory at the European Tour’s PGA Championship at Wentworth at the weekend.

But it was a different story for former world number one Wozniacki who slipped to a 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-2 French Open defeat to Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer on a chilly Court Two on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

It was 13th-seeded Wozniacki’s earliest defeat in Paris since her debut in 2007.

McIlroy and Wozniacki met nearly three years ago in Munich at a boxing match between David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko.

After Tuesday’s match, Wozniacki pleaded for privacy but did admit recent events had left her shaken.

“I was not prepared for this, it all came as a bit of a shock,” she admitted after first of all making a brief statement to reporters.

“I am happy to talk about my match but not my personal life. I hope you will understand that. I want to thank everyone for their support and sweet messages.

“But what happens in my personal life I want to keep between me and my closest family. I have to move on from this.”

As well as her love life, Wozniacki arrived in Paris nursing physical wounds after a knee injury ruled her out of the recent Rome tournament.

In the aftermath of her split with McIlroy, Wozniacki found support on the tour.

“@CaroWozniacki I’ll always walk with you. #friendsforever,” wrote world number one Serena Williams on Twitter.

Williams said she felt for Wozniacki.

“I would rather lose any day than break up. It’s always hard,” said the American.